Hand lantern



Dec. 22, 1931. c, COBB 1,837,808

HAND LANTERN Filed Dec. 26. 1929 innummm v lNl ENT' lz. C/arence L. 6066 fwifw Patented Dec. 22, 1931 ijNlTED STATES CLARENCE L. COBB, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WELTON r -TENT OFFICE s'rALLsMI'rH,

F, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA HAND mam Application filed December 26, 1929. Serial No. 416.590.

This invention relates to a hand lantern, and more particularly to the manner in which the hand lantern can be held by the user.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a bail structure for such lanterns that can be grasped by the hand, which structure is so arranged that it can be rendered rigid at will or pivotal at will.

It is another object of my invention to improve in general, the structure of such hand lanterns.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my inven tion is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hand lantern embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional "iew through an ear of the bail, showing it in the rigid position; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the lantern body, showing the bail, in swingable position.

The lantern in general includes a hollow body 11 conveniently made from sheet metal, for the accommodation of a battery or the like for supplying electrical energy to one or more lamps 12. These lamps are accommodated in the bottom portion of the body 11. so as to throw light generally in an axial direction. If desired, a reflector member 13 can be provided on the bottom of the body 11. Ordinarily, also, a wire or metal stand structure 1 1 is provided to permit resting the lan tern on a flat horizontal surface. A removable cap- 15 for body 11 is also shown.

In order to make it possible to manipulate or carry the lantern, as for example, in connection with railroad or farm use, I provide a bail 16, carried by the body 11. This bail is in general U-shaped, and is provided at its extremities with apertured ears 17. These ears are shown as being flattened in this instance. attached or carried by the body 11 forms an important part of my invention.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bail 16 is merely pivoted on the radial posts 18. These posts are shown in the present instance as formed by screws. The heads are accommodated in pocket or channel portions 19 formed at the sides of body 11, as by upsetting the body at these points. Thumb nuts can be used to hold the ears 17 on the screws, and against the outer surface of the pocket walls. These nuts are tightened sufficiently to suit conditions; they canfor instance leave the bail ears 17 comparatively loose, to permit free swinging of the bail 16; or else they can be tightened to provide some frictional resistance against swinging, but not sufiicient to prevent ready adjustment of the bail position by a force exerted by the hand on the bail.

However, it is possible with this structure to provide a rigid bail, that cannot be swung about posts 18. The pockets 19 are each provided with an open top, permitting the ears 17 tobe inserted inside the pockets. The width of these ears is purposely made about the same as that of pocket 19 so as to fit rather snugly therein. This position of the bail is shown in Fig. 2. Thus to change the bail 16 from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, the nuts 20 are removed, screws 18 are withdrawn; the bail 16 thus freed, can have its ears inserted into pockets 19, and the screws 18 can be passed through the ears, and nuts 20 applied. Since ears 17 fit snugly in pockets 19, bail 16 is held in rigid position.

The manner in which the bail 16 can be changed from the position of Fig. 2 to that the pockets as well as outside of the pockets 100 The manner in which these ears are.

and in contacting relation therewith, and fastening means, so that the bail can be held inside or outsideof the ears whereby a rigid or swinging connection can be had.

2. In a hand lantern, a body made from sheet metal, said body having at each side,a pocket formed integrally therewith, said pocket being open at one end, a bail having til ears arranged to fit snugly in the pockets and to hold the bail rigid, and also arranged I to be disposed on the outside of the pockets and in contacting relation therewith for permitting swinging of the bail and removable fastening means for the ears.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. a

(1L. COBB.

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